Daryl Hannah Comes Out As Autistic

“I’ve never been comfortable being the center of attention It’s always freaked me out … I’m a grown up now. I’ve learned a couple of things that really would’ve made my life easier if I’d known them 20 years ago … I wasted so much time scared, self-conscious and insecure. Life is too short to stress the small things anymore.”

–Daryl Hannah reveals that she was diagnosed with autism as a child in this week’s issue of People. In the interview, Hannah also talks about how initially, doctors wanted to institutionalize her and she took up acting as a means of escape from the real world. But once she became successful, fear of fame debilitated her. She admits to skipping her own movie premieres and press appearances because she was “terrified.” I think it’s very brave of her to go public with her struggles.